The post-season WorldSBK test in Jerez provided the first opportunity for many riders to try their new bikes for the 2026 season, and those riders included Stefano Manzi who impressed Yamaha management on his first day.<\/p>\n
Manzi, like all the Yamaha World Superbike<\/a> riders, rode only the first day of the two-day Jerez test, but it was his second day on the YZF-R1 after testing in Misano earlier in the year.<\/p>\n The Italian, who won the 2025 Supersport World Championship, slots into the GRT team for next season, and his adaptation to the Superbike-spec R1 has been impressive to Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Division Manager Niccolo Canepa.<\/p>\n \u201cStefano [Manzi] did a fantastic job today because he already tested the bike just for one day earlier in the season, but it\u2019s not easy to step up in Superbike \u2013 it\u2019s always challenging,\u201d Canepa said, speaking to WorldSBK.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHis lap time was very good, he adapted very quickly, and we are very happy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cFor sure, he\u2019s a World Champion, so we know that he\u2019s going to be fast next year but it\u2019s important to start on the right foot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just tried to spin as many laps as possible\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The first day of 2026 was relatively simple for Manzi, as he just tried to get as much mileage as possible on the YZF-R1 with minimal changes being made to the bike, something he expects to experiment with more in November when he and Yamaha will test in Jerez again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was super,\u201d he told WorldSBK.com. \u201cI enjoyed a lot. I just tried to spin as [many] laps as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were a bit unlucky in the morning because there were some drops of rain, but in the end it was sunny in the afternoon and I spin 95 laps so I\u2019m quite happy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, it was not bad also my performance on the bike but I still have to learn and improve the riding style on the bike. I\u2019m quite happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe testing programme was just to spin as many laps as possible and not touch the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo, we have a lot of work to do but we will do it at the next test in November when we come back here on the 26th and 27th.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo, at the moment we don\u2019t touch [anything], I just moved the front brake lever up and down and that\u2019s it. So, we have a lot of work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n On the November test, he added: \u201cMaybe we start to find out some new setting and adapt a bit the bike to myself because today I just tried to adapt myself to the bike. But we will see.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardner managing shoulder injury<\/p>\n Manzi\u2019s teammate for 2026 will be Remy Gardner<\/a>, who has been retained for a third season at GRT.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n